On January 3, 2022, no passer-by at Ile Ogboriefon, GRA, Osogbo had an inkling of a sizeable gathering seated inside the architectural wonder, which houses the Principal Emeritus of Nigeria, Alhaji Ajadi Badmus. There was no noise to market the event going on in the compound. The whole ambiance was calm, was orderly, was peaceful and was completely academic.
It was gathering of secondary school teachers who have elected to further build their capacity for more effective delivery of their services to their pupils, using technological innovation in 1 Million teachers Organisation, being coordinated from far away Canada but powered in Osun State by the Ajadi Badmus Foundation.
Participants were strict with scheduled time for the programme and got themselves settled on time after which the kick off was announced. In attendance included a league of retired principal, who complemented Badmus to give the participants pep talks after which some select participants were awarded a sum of N10, 000 each for attaining what is called Black Belt status in the programme.
Among the awardees included Mr Oluwaseye Adeoti, Mr Fatai Olamilekan Tafa, Mrs Bamkefa, Mrs Agatha Joseph. While welcoming the teachers to the event, Badmus went down memory lane and traced history of 1 Million Teachers Organisation to October 2021 when he announced scholarship offers to 5000 teachers interested in the programme.
“Today, some three months later, we are gathered here to celebrate and rejoice with the teachers that have worked so hard to achieve the important milestone of Black Belt (BB) stage,” he said and called on those just hearing about the programme to also take the advantage to broaden their teaching knowledge, stressing that 1 million Teachers Programme is “geared to motivate teachers to keep improving their skills and performances, especially in this modern and scientific age through combined high quality online mobile internet technology and tutorials, tuitions, lectures, books, seminar, workshop and classroom setting.”
He added,” 1 million teachers programme would ensure that teachers and school administrators are life-long learners and up to date.”
One of the awardees who made attestation to the significance of the programme, Mr Tafa emphasized that knowledge starts from cradle to grave, expressing his gratitude to Badmus for exposing him and his colleagues to alternative classroom to advance their teaching knowledge.
Chairman, Osun State branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Alhaji Abubakar Adekomi was overwhelmed by presence of those he called his bosses in teaching profession, appreciating them for their role in his career and love for impacting knowledge. Adekomi assured that 1 million Teachers Programme would be embraced by teachers in Osun State without further delay.
“I am happy to be part of today’s occasion, which is an eye opener to see what technology can do to better our career. What is good should not be restricted to a few, teachers in the state will key into this programme. We are going to work out modalities on how we are going to spread it,” he said in a voice which suggested his seriousness.
The NUT chairmen, Osogbo and Olorunda local government councils, Mr Olayemi Alhazzan and Mrs Olufunke Niyi also remarked that the programme is reliable, responsible and valuable to progress of teachers in their calling. Niyi revealed that she did not want any of her children to take after her in the profession due to poor condition of service, especially what she called discouraging remuneration.
“But with this programme, one of my children is already showing interest in teaching because she monitor how I go about the programme using my phone,” she told the amusing audience who listened to her narratives with a keen interest.
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